I have to admit, I first learned the term "ergonomically designed" through my older sister while she was attending undergrad for industrial design. Before then, I hadn't thought much more about the design of products other than for sheer aesthetics. Visiting her at college and observing all the cool things that she and her peers were designing (not just for show, but for form and function) I quickly threw out all my notion of design as being purely aesthetic. It turned a little light bulb on in my brain, that I continues to glow. I have a growing appreciation for products that are minimal and functional, user friendly, and not "horsey." There is nothing more irritating than a product that's made to look cool, but has no intent in function. When it comes to designing classroom environments, and tools within those environments for the use of students and teachers alike, all should be considered with both form and function in mind.
It was also through my sister that I learned about the brand OXO, initially created for older individuals who may need extra help turning knobs using usually delicate utensils, into products that can be universally used by many people. It is with this kind of consideration (that of the most users, with the most ease) that contributes to a more universal design. However, adaptations will always be necessary for some, and that's where my appreciation for "low-tech" comes in. For example, the tennis ball modeled in class. It is a regular household item, inexpensive, and easy to obtain. It can have multiple uses: to bounce as a ball, to use as caps for the bottoms of students' chairs to ease movability and soften noise, or to use with a Smartboard in place of a pen for those with grasping difficulty. It is important to bare in mind that often times, a simple low-tech solution can be used. It is up to us "problem-solvers" to know how to spot ergonomically designed products, how to obtain them, and when to opt for adaptations.
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